Spring Break Fun!

This spring break was the first one in a looooong time I remember Aaron being off.  We decided to take full advantage of that.  So, we hit the road and headed to Crested Butte, Co with some of our besties...the Berna's.

 It was a 17 hour drive total so we broke the trip up and stayed the first night in Wheeler.  After much thinking and worrying,  we decided to let Tate stay in Wheeler for the week.  He's not much on road trips yet.  It was SO hard to leave him behind, but he was in great hands.  THANK YOU so much mom and dad for taking such good care of him.  It is so very comforting to know how much he is loved! He had a great time...checking on the cows, playing baseball, soccer, riding the golf cart, and visiting friends.

From there we headed to Amarillo to meet up with Chad, Nissa and Nash. It was so great to spend some quality time with them.  

After a convincing the boys we needed to make a quick stop at Starbucks, and a quick pull to the side of the road due some car sickness,  we were off...

It seemed like we were there in a hop, skip and a jump (maybe that's because I was able to sneak in a nap or two)...

Aaron's good buddy, Don,  from high school works at the Almont Resort.  We CAN'T thank him enough for all he did for us.   Seriously, it was so awesome! These boys picked up right where they left off :)

(Almont Resort)

(Our view from the cabin, beautiful!)

(The cabin)

The whole week was filled with fun.  We did something different everyday.

We went sledding, skiing, rock climbing, ice skating, fishing, golfing, and lots of shopping!

(Lyssa picked up right where she left off)

(Parker...watch out fellow skiers

...he isn't afraid of ANYTHING)

(Vanessa, Me, Parker and Lyssa)

(J.D., Chad, and Aaron...they couldn't hang ;)

 (Me and Parker)

(Nissa and Nash)

(Parker)

(Lyssa)

(Parker and Don...one of my favorite pictures from the trip)

(This another one...she never stopped trying to catch "just one")

(Nash and Parker...cutest boys ever)

(Second catch of the day)

(Lyssa, flying high)

(Don't look down!)

(Nash getting ready)

(She made it to the top...three times)

I agree with Parker..."Can we just go back?"

All You Need is Paint!

Thanks Roxy for the sweet blog post...click HERE to check it out.

For so long now I have been wanting to blog about 

All You Need is Paint!

It's my new business...I've actually been painting and repainting furniture for a long time.  When you are a coaches wife you learn to become very resourceful and figure out ways to keep all your stuff while bouncing around from place to place.  Painting a piece of furniture gives it a new look!  It changes everything!!

So, I took a leap of faith and decided to take it a step further by trying to get 'my name' out there.

It was definitely a God thing.  When we moved to Temple it kind of just happened.  I was painting for a business in downtown Temple within months after moving here.  From there, I started getting random jobs.  Everything from dinning room furniture, to bedroom furniture, kitchen tables, end tables, vanities, dressers, and my latest call yesterday...swings!  I'm excited about that!!

I'm terrible at taking before and after pictures.  

I kick myself for not documenting everything I have painted.

I even have a website I haven't used yet...ugggg!

It's my goal though.

Here is just one before and after...

If your furniture needs a new look...

keep me in mind.

Choose Love

Capitol 10K

Yesterday my sisters and I ran the Capitol 10K in Austin.  

(Bridgett isn't pictured because we were supposed to meet her at the corner of something and something...well in the mix of over 23,000 people we just couldn't hook up.)

To sum it up...AWESOME! I forgot what a rush it is to "participate" in runs like this.  To be honest I was actually dreading it...until the second we took off.  I have only ran a handful of times this year.  I mean I have been workout out, but not 'training' for a run.  So, I was pleasantly surprised at how good I felt during and after the race.  

I think I have Summer to thank for that!!

Our friend, Summer, couldn't make the race.  She is approaching Kelsie's first birthday date.  Times are tough for her.  However, I am ALWAYS amazed at her strength.  If you haven't check out her blog, click here....it's truly an inspiration.  

We missed you so very much Summer, but we are so glad you are making decisions that are best for you and that you are taking care of yourself. 

XOXO

Choose Love

I Could Really Use a Wish Right Now

Someone, anyone...

I'm begging and pleading... 

Please just freeze frame time.

It almost makes me hyperventilate...

Just to think about how fast time is flying by.

My babies are growing up right before my eyes...

Growing up I always remember hearing my parents say, "Time just flies by"...

I get it now...

and I don't like it...

one bit!

Choose Love

I Have a Big Girl House, Sort of...

I love, love, love my house! The first time I saw I knew it would be perfect for our family! It was in great shape when we bought it...it just needed a little 'FUN'!!!  When we moved in I knew I wanted to decorate 'kids appropriate',  after all three of them live here.  

We have taken on one project at a time, and as each one is completed I feel more and more at home!  So I've taken a few before and afters...

Before:  This is our cute little front porch.  I can't wait to get a swing or two!

After:  

We painted our front door.  Doesn't it look more inviting!

Dining Room Before...

Dining Room After...

My kids inspired the "Amen, Amen, Amen" painting.  They are always singing that when we sit down for a meal.  I think somewhere along the way they heard it from me...it brings back some memories from UMY.

And thanks to my dad he made us the awesome wooden table top. I LOVE it!

Did you notice the chandler?  We spray painted that little beauty, and found the little shades on clearance at Lowe's...I love it when I stumble on a good deal!

This little black serving piece in the corner used to be Tate's changing table.  You would have never known, huh?!?

Entry Before...

Entry After:

I love that cute little green dresser with the red knobs. It was a great find in Abilene.

The map is from IKEA (my new tri-monthly visit)!

This cute little table is used for the kids art table.  All three of them love it and spend a lot of time here.  Which explains all the art I have displayed all over the house :)

This chalk board is just to the right when you walk in the front door. I found it at a garage sale a couple years ago.  It was a mirror that I just flipped around and painted chalk board paint on.  

It has been used for football schedules, to-do lists, favorite sayings, calendar, and just a place to scribble.  

This was at Christmas...so fun!

Kitchen Before:

I can't believe this is the only before picture I have but you can get an idea.

Kitchen After:

Isn't it AWESOME!!  This is my new favorite room in the house! All we have to do is add some pulls that we are going to get from IKEA.  

Ok, now for this craziness! 

I don't have a before of this table, but it was just an antique distressed white.  

I knew once my cabinets were painted I wanted to paint this table top red for some fun color in the breakfast nook.  However, with some inspiration from Roxanne, who is always up for fun projects...this happened...

Aaron's old football number was 17.  Parker wears it now. We also have many family birthdays that land on 17.  So, it has become our lucky number around here.

I don't know if you can tell by this picture but we randomly painted some 'fun' stuff on the table. 

Like...

'I know a girl, she puts the color inside my world' (Lyssa)

'Out of all the little boys in the whole world...how is it possible we got the best ones' (Parker, Tate)

'3262' (part of my grandmothers phone number)

'Quit smacking' (something I'm always saying) 

'Eat your veggies' (something else I'm always saying)

'6/30' (our wedding anniversary) 

some x's and o's 

Isn't it soooo fun!! It is definitely unexpected!

More chalk board paint....I stole the idea from a picture I saw in the Pottery Barn magazine.  

It has worked out well...no more scuff marks on the wall from the kids shoes.

Tate and his friend Emme drawing love notes to each other ;)

Living Room Before:

Living Room After:

Just some more fun color added here.  Aaron retiled our fireplace.  I think it made a HUGE difference!

Couch, rug, and painting all came from IKEA.  Such bargains at that store ;)

I still want to add some chevron curtains on all the windows, maybe that will be the next project.

I hope you liked the mini tour of our home!  I'll show you the bedrooms next.  

I would love to hear your input!!  

Happy Wednesday...

Choose Love-